Main ideas and Markers of Definition and time

MAIN IDEAS 

• The main idea is the central, or most important, idea in a paragraph or passage. It 
states the purpose and sets the direction of the paragraph or passage. 
• The main idea may be stated or it may be implied. 
• When the main idea of a paragraph is stated, it is most often found in the first 
sentence of the paragraph. However, the main idea may be found in any sentence 
of the paragraph. 
• The main idea may be stated in the first sentence of a paragraph and then be 
repeated or restated at the end of the paragraph. 
• The main idea may be split. The first sentence of a paragraph may present a point 
of view, while the last sentence presents a contrasting or opposite view. 
• To find the main idea of any paragraph or passage, ask these questions: 
1. Who or what is the paragraph about? 
2. What aspect or idea about the ‘who’ or ‘what’ is the author concerned with?

Go to http://www.mdc.edu/Kendall/collegeprep/documents2/MAIN%20IDEASrevised815.pdf for some exercises.

Marcadores de Definicion:

This is, for example, in other words, such as,  for instance, which means, involves

-IS /ARE

-IS TERMED

-IS DEFINED AS

-DEALS WITH

-IS CALLED

-IS KNOWN AS

-IS CHARACTERIZED BY

-IS CONCERNED WITH

-REFERS TO

Muchas las definiciones, se ñalan con la ayuda de comas (,) Parentesis () o hyphesn

Ejemplo:

Revocation  refers to the nullification of a segment, portion, or all of an agreement.

Marcadores de secuencia y orden en el tiempo:

FIRST 
LATER ON 
AT THE END
SOON 
DURING 
IN THE BEGINNING 
NEXT 
AFTERWARDS 
AT THE MEAN TIME 
LATER 
FINALLY 
RIGHT AWAY 
AT LAST 
EVENTUALLY 
IMMEDIATELY
NOT LONG 
AFTER 
BEFORE
WHILE

Algunos incluyen fechas: años, dias, meses, estaciones:

APRIL 19,1955

NEAR THE END OF THE 19TH CENTURY 
AT THE AGE OF 
FOURTEEN YEARS LATER 
FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS
IN THE EARLY 1930s 
FROM THAT TIME.

Workshop
Main Ideas

1. Individual task. Look for an article related to your field of expertise. Use Google, write key words related to a topic you want to read about.
2. Select 3 paragraphs from your article and identify the main ideas. Write why you think your choice is a main idea).

Definition Markers

1. Individual task. Go to wikipedia and look for 3 different concepts (topic) related to your field of expertise. You can also use Google, write key words related to a topic you want to read about.
2. Underline the definition markers present in the text.

Time secuence and order Markers

1. Individual task. Go to wikipedia and look for a biography of someone related to your field of expertise. You can also use Google, write key words related to a topic you want to read about.
2. Copy three paragraphs and underline the Time secuence and order markers present in the text.